NCAA
NCAA CFP rankings: Predictions for 2024 College football playoffs
With just four games into the College Football season, a couple of teams are starting to dominate.
Tennessee were the big winners this weekend as they moved up one spot in the AP Poll to No. 5 after dominating Oklahoma in a game that wasn’t as close as the final 10-point scoreline would suggest.
The Volunteers didn’t concede their first two touchdowns of the 2024 season until the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s contest — when the team was already up 22-3. Tennessee’s defense has been playing at an elite level, joining its electrifying yet balanced offense.
Tennessee will enjoy a BYE next week before taking on Arkansas 5 October, while Oklahoma looks to rebound in its SEC schedule vs. Auburn.
Michigan ruin the party for Trojans
Michigan edged USC 27-24 in a thrilling Big Ten opener on Saturday, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
USC, playing its first Big Ten game, had one final drive to try and steal a win in Ann Arbor. After converting a key third-down pass to Woody Marks, the Trojans drove into Michigan territory but fell just short of field goal range. Moss completed a pass on fourth down, but the receiver was tackled one yard short of the marker, sealing the win for Michigan.
The Wolverines led 20-17 going into the fourth quarter but found themselves trailing after USC quarterback Miller Moss connected with Ja’Kobi Lane for a 24-yard touchdown pass, giving the Trojans a 24-20 lead with 8:19 remaining.
Michigan’s offense, which had been largely quiet in the second half, came to life when running back Kalel Mullings broke free for a 63-yard rush to set up a first down at the USC 17-yard line with two minutes left. The Wolverines then capitalized as Mullings punched it in from the 1-yard line on fourth-and-goal to put Michigan back in front.
Rankings
Meanwhile, the top four of the AP Poll remained the same, led by No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Alabama.
Team: Points: Record: Previous
1: Texas 1527 4-0 (1)
2: Georgia 1482 3-0 (2)
3: Ohio State 1432 3-0 (3)
4: Alabama 1328 3-0 (4)
5: Tennessee 1283 4-0 (6)
6: Ole Miss 1269 4-0 (5)
7: Miami (FL) 1139 4-0 (8)
8: Oregon 1073 3-0 (9)
9: Penn State 1051 3-0 (10)
10: Utah 1037 4-0 (12)
Week Five schedule
Friday, Sept. 27
No. 7 Miami (Fla.) vs. Virginia Tech | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Saturday, Sept. 28
No. 1 Texas vs. Mississippi State | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 2 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama | 7:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan State | 7 p.m. | Peacock
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. Kentucky | 12 p.m. | ABC
No. 8 Oregon at UCLA | 11 p.m. | FOX
No. 9 Penn State vs. No. 19 Illinois | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 10 Utah vs. Arizona | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN
No. 12 Michigan vs. Minnesota | 12 p.m. | FOX
No. 13 USC vs. Wisconsin | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 14 LSU vs. South Alabama | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 15 Louisville at No. 16 Notre Dame | 3:30 p.m. | Peacock
No. 17 Clemson vs. Stanford | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 18 Iowa State at Houston | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Kansas State | 12 p.m. | ESPN
No. 21 Oklahoma at Auburn | 3:40 p.m. | ABC
No. 22 BYU at Baylor | 12 p.m. | FS1
No. 24 Texas A&M vs. Arkansas | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 25 Boise State vs. Washington State | 10 p.m. | FS1
(all times ET)